Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco has tested positive for the coronavirus, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic was among those to report.
Polanco has been out of Pirates Summer Camp for almost the entire week, making this an unsurprising development. However, it’s unclear whether he’s dealing with severe symptoms or whether he’ll be able to return in short order. The same goes for two of his teammates, reliever Keone Kela (whom the team placed on the injured list Friday) and third base prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes. They’ve also been absent from camp.
From an on-field standpoint, Polanco is one of the Pirates’ most important players. He was a solid producer as recently as the 2018 season, in which he batted .254/.340/.499 with 23 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 535 plate appearances. But Polanco couldn’t build on that during an injury-plagued 2019 that saw him take just 167 PA and bat .242/.301/.425 with six HRs and three steals.
Now, as Jason Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote Thursday, the Polanco-less Pirates could turn to any of Guillermo Heredia, Socrates Brito, Adam Frazier or Jose Osuna in right field. Bryan Reynolds figures to start in left, while Jarrod Dyson should occupy center.
Shiver me timbers, a concerning development for the Pirates
Everyone figured as much.Any player who is suddenly away from the team and no official word as to why makes you assume that it is covid related. Here is to hoping that he is asymptomatic and back on the field in a week. From all accounts, he has been outstanding since summer training started
If you want him to be back in a week, you want it to be a false positive. If it’s asymptomatic, he’s out for at least 14 days, then he has to test negative twice. At least that’s the way I read it.
He was in camp. How long has he been out of camp? Did he infect anyone else?
The Pirates have now become an interesting team.
This is really going to be a fascinating season to watch.
A couple impact players testing positive could keep them out for almost 1/4 of the season. That could swing any team from contender to not in a short season like this.
The teams that follow the health protocols and keep their players on the field will have the best chance in this weird 2020 season.
“A couple impact players testing positive could keep them out for almost 1/4 of the season.”
More than that. Matt Theiss
“…it’s also a little frustrating when you know you feel perfectly fine. But for me personally, it took me 20-something days of testing to test negative, and I was isolated close to 28 or 29 days.”
True enough. That’s almost half the season.
It’s going to be crazy.
Cue the music — youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE
Pirates prospect Jared Oliva is a above average CF and was an AFL all star. A platoon of him and the LHH Jason Martin would be fine to start season.
Tough break for the guy, who was reportedly looking real good in practice and had a real good shot at a bounce-back season. Hope his symptoms aren’t too severe and he feels good enough to rejoin the team soon.
Polanco is in that perpetual “he’s looking in practice, has a great chance to rebound” camp.
Definitely. No one can argue that the man hasn’t always had all the tools to be a solid impact player, but he’s either been injured, ill, or generally unable to put it all together consistently. You hope he doesn’t end up being that guy sitting on a barstool talking about what might have been, but…….
Part of this is due to the Pirates roster. When Polcano starts heating up, it very easy for teams to pitch around him given the rest of the Pirates lineup. If he played for the Yankees, Astros or even the Twins, his stats would look much better for the games he’s been healthy enough to play in. He’s a valuable player and would probably bring back a collection of talent if Pitt ever chose to move him.
I’m a Bucs fan. Unfortunately, I think Polanco has worn out his welcome…way too many brain cramps in the field & on the basepaths. Very inconsistent at the plate…with a few hot streaks to tease the fans…and injury riddled. I’d be shocked to see him fetch much in any deal.
“Young Gregory Polanco” and all his potential will be turning 29 before this shortened season is over. He was supposed to be a perennial all-star based on all the hype with his tools. He’s a 6 win player after 6 years. He has negative defense, even in PNC Park’s tiny right field. I agree that between the injuries and the lackluster play, he has worn out his welcome. I don’t think anyone would give up much for him. He’s a guy that should be in his prime. But he was fast enough to steal bases and would always come off the bag, his cannon arm is now broken, he might give you two hot weeks in the summer but the rest of the time he’s basically average or worse at the plate. Starting to see more strike outs than hits. He’s become the new Pedro Alvarez.
Wonder what it would take for the cards to trade for Polanco? Maybe edmundo sosa and jake wofford. I mean the cards would have to move fowler somewhere first, but I think Polanco could rebound in stl.
As a Pirate fan, I will take anything for the Giraffe.